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“Maybe?” Morgan quipped back. “I want to hear all about what has you so busy over these mimosas though.”
“Of course,” I agreed, knowing that there werenomimosas in my future.
Not on a weekday.
Okay… maybeone.
Honestly, I could use a drink after the way I’d woken up.
The damn papers weren’t even signed yet and Orion Sterling had already disintegrated my nerves.
* * *
“That whole familyis the fuckingworst,” Morgan declared, pausing to take a sip before adding, “Why are they always trying to take over something?!”
My eyes went wide over her response to my revelation of this whole thing with Orion, which I hadn’t shared with friends until now. “Wait a minute, you’ve dealt with them before?”
She nodded. “Unfortunately. Well… kinda. They wanted my parents to cut a deal, only supplying to them. Which could’ve been great, right? Except they lowballed the fuck out of us, half market rate foreverything.Andthey wanted to useoureast coast connections for crab, oysters, all that stuff. When we wouldn’t do it, they tried to get us blackballed. Luckily our suppliers weren’t really on that, but can you believe the audacity?!” she fussed.
Rightfully.
“I’m not remotely surprised.” I shook my head. “With the way Orion came intoNectarwithsuchdisrespect, that apple couldn’t have fallen very far from the tree.”
“It’s a shame,” Alexis said, her first time speaking up at all. “I hate that your experience has been so negative.”
Morgan and I looked at each other, eyebrows raised, then both turned to Alexis, brows furrowed.
“What an odd statement,” I said, leaning toward her. “Very…measured.”
She cringed a little, then tried to pick up her fork, no doubt intending to stuff enough food in her mouth to stall the conversation.
Morgan was quick though, snatching her plate to move it out of reach. “Uh-uh,” she said. “Talk.”
“I can’t say much!” Alexis insisted. “It could be considered… a conflict of interests…”
My eyes narrowed even further. “How?”
“I…fuck,” she huffed. “Orion has brothers, you know?”
I nodded. “Yeah, Ares and Titan. I looked the family up so I’d at least know what I was marrying into.Whydo you bring them up?”
“Well… I kinda… manage some of the family’s portfolio? All of Titan’s, actually.”
“Traitor!” I gasped, planting a hand to my chest as Morgan unceremoniously returned Lex’s plate. “How could you work with the enemy?!”
“I didn’t know he—well, hisbrother—was going to ‘become the enemy’,” she huffed, crossing her arms. “Or that the whole family wasalreadyyours,” she said to Morgan, who rolled her eyes.
“They’re awful people. Why would you want to work with them anyway?”
Alexis frowned. “Bitch they’rebillionaires,and wealth is my trade.” She laughed. “Why wouldn’t I? Besides…” She flipped a handful of blonde-streaked layers over her shoulder. “Titan is… cool people. He introduced me to Dale.”
I’d been taking a sip from the watered-down mimosa I’d nursed for the whole meal, trying to get the sour taste of this news out of my mouth and choked when she said that. “He introduced you to your fiancé?” I whisper-yelled. “You told us you met him through a friend. IsTitan fucking Sterling… yourfriend?!”
Instead of answering, Alexis poked at the remains of her poached egg, which wasplentyof answer. “Oh myGod,” I groaned.
Across the table, Morgan sucked her teeth. “I should’ve known my life was going a littletoogood. Do I have to come to the wedding?” she asked.
“Donotfucking play with me!” I said, motioning at her with a pointed fork. “You’re my maid of honor!”
